I have a young lilac bush that looks worse for wear. It is less than one year old. The leaves are curled, scorced, and brown. Is this from the intense heat?
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Lilac
Submitted by mhillman on June 26, 2009 - 12:07pm.
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Lilac
The decline of the lilac can certainly be heat related. A root system that is not fully established will be unable to cope with high heat. Added to that is the copious rainfall we have experienced, which has created additional stress on plants, as it forces oxygen out of the soil, thus causing roots to die back. Plants have to adjust to the sudden change in temperatures (cool, wet to very hot), just as we do.
I am assuming that the plant is sited with good drainage, and that there has been absolutely no Weed control has been recently applied in the area.
If the lilac has not grown roots out of the original root ball, and in order to give it the best chance, keep the root ball evenly moist, and mulched.
Good luck,
Carole
Johnson County Extension Master Gardener